flowers growing inside my rotting ribs

Lawrence and Mason.

Lawrence, or, the Lich, haunts the woods Mason resides in- yet actively chooses to stay out of sight and leave him be despite the cruelty he delivers upon animals and fellow humans. There’s no question why he doesn’t intervene when it comes to people. Lawrence never connected with them, and it would be fair to say he holds a lot of bitterness towards humanity as it is.

But… animals. Sweet, innocent, clever. He, with the power to easily put an end to their suffering, chooses not to. Why? Why keep Mason alive? Why stand back and watch as he invites himself into the home of critters and takes them as food, trophies, and sport-points? Lawrence has always been known to avoid people as much as possible, but he’s also been known to act on impulse and his temper. What about Mason and his activities keeps Lawrence from getting angry? Again, I find it hard to believe Law, even if he weren’t the Lich, would be scared of him.

Instead, I think he agrees with him.

I think Mason is the first living human being to change Lawrence’s mind. To convince him of another way of life. Maybe Law was tired of living how he was, maybe he was ready for something new, or… maybe it’s easier than that. Maybe Lawrence agrees with Mason because he provides for him. He delivers people to him. He gives him the one thing he could never gain by himself in his lifetime; an entrance into humanities understanding.

He can talk to them. He can comfort them. He can be this all-knowing entity that can protect them from the bad man. And when Mason eventually gets them, he can observe them from his safe distance among the waters. He can take them in. Know them. Be a part of them. To challenge Mason’s presence there, to prove him wrong, to be disgusted by his existence, is to admit something so vile and cruel brings him comfort. Lawrence knows he’s better than that. He was an awful human being, but now he understands that’s because he was never supposed to be one. He’s better than that! Than them!

Hop, little White Hare

Crimson eyes focused on the target

on my back

The water splashes

Thrashes

Moves with every step you take,

Your desperation to catch me

your driving force.

But you will never be fast enough,

O' White Hare

For the chains that bind you to

the depths of The River

will forever hold you back,

And even if your soft paws

graze my skin,

You will be yanked back

like a dog tied to pole.

You will never catch me,

You little red eyed

chained up

White Hare,

And you will never take me

to the place beyond

The River.